MMA news

• Josh Neer Replaces UFC-Bound Elvis Mutapcic in Victory FC 47 Main Event

  13-01-2016 22:19 via sherdog.com
  
  Midwest promotion Victory Fighting Championship on Wednesday announced that the main event to VFC 47 has undergone a change.
  
  Read more

• UFC official confirms Vitor Belfort turned down fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 197

  13-01-2016 22:00
  
  Anderson Silva will battle Michael Bisping in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card in London on Feb. 27, but that wasn’t the promotion’s original plan for "The Spider".
  The UFC officially announced UFC 197 pay-per-view show for March 5 in Rio de Janeiro, but eventually moved the card to Las Vegas with Rafael dos Anjos vs. Conor McGregor and Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate as headliners.
  According to UFC senior vice president Giovani Decker, UFC 197 was originally planned for Arena da
  
  Read more

• Erick Silva vs. Nordine Taleb official for UFC 197

  13-01-2016 21:30
  
  The UFC added the first non-title bout to the gigantic UFC 197 event in Las Vegas.
  Erick Silva, who joined Kings MMA for his next training camp, will face off against Nordine Taleb in a welterweight fight on March 5, the UFC announced Wednesday.
  UFC 197 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, featuring Rafael dos Anjos vs. Conor McGregor for the lightweight title and Holly Holm vs. Miesha Tate for the bantamweight crown.
  Silva (18-6, 1 NC), who scored his six Octagon wins by first-round stopp
  
  Read more

• Dominick Cruz: You Never Know Which Side Team Alpha Male Guys Are Playing

  13-01-2016 21:19 via sherdog.com
  
  It’s no secret that Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber aren’t the best of friends.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• B.J. Penn formally challenges Nik Lentz to fight at UFC 197

  13-01-2016 20:58
  
  If Tuesday's initial Instagram post from JacksonWink wasn't enough of a clue, it's now clear that UFC Hall of Famer B.J .Penn wants to return to the Octagon.
  And not just against anyone. He has an opponent, date, and place in mind.
  Penn, the former UFC welterweight and lightweight champion, made his second Instagram post in less than 24 hours on Wednesday and challenged UFC featherweight contender Nik Lentz to a fight, specifically calling him out for a bout at UFC 197 in Las Vegas.
  "This i
  
  Read more

• UFC Fight Night 81 Embedded

  13-01-2016 20:30
  
  In the debut of UFC Fight Night 81 Embedded, get a closer look at next Sunday's clash between UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw and former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.Also the show featured the co-main event between former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and Eddie Alvarez.
  
  Read more

• Erick Silva to Face Nordine Taleb in Welterweight Clash at UFC 197

  13-01-2016 20:09 via sherdog.com
  
  Erick Silva will lock horns with Nordine Taleb in a welterweight bout at UFC 197, promotion officials announced on Wednesday.
  
  Read more

• Jose Aldo believes UFC gave Conor McGregor 'too much power'

  13-01-2016 18:00
  
  Jose Aldo lost his UFC featherweight crown to Conor McGregor in 13 seconds at UFC 194, and he won’t accept to compete in a non-title fight when he returns to the Octagon in 2016.
  The Brazilian fighter, who dominated the WEC and UFC for six years, says he was promised a shot at the 145-pound belt by Dana White moments after his loss to "The Notorious" in Las Vegas, but seeing the UFC president let McGregor move up to 155 pounds to challenge champion Rafael dos Anjos without vacating his bel
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• BJ Penn Meets With Greg Jackson, Preparing For UFC Comeback Fight?

  13-01-2016 17:39
  
  As things stand right now, UFC Hall Of Famer BJ Penn is a retired former two-division UFC Champion, however a recent meeting with legendary MMA coach Greg Jackson has fans thinking "The Prodigy" could soon be returning to the Octagon.Penn met with the man considered to be among the best trainers in MMA history this week in Albuquerque, New Mexico to discuss joining the Jackson/Winklejohn fight team, a team that is home to multiple UFC stars and champions, such as Jon Jones and Holly Holm.Followi
  
  Read more

• As of August, Nick Diaz will be free — and that’s at least a consolation prize

  13-01-2016 17:00
  
  As far as public-induced mulligans go, the Nevada Athletic Commission did the least it could on Tuesday by reducing Nick Diaz’s suspension from five years to 18 months (retroactive to Jan. 31, 2015). The #FreeNickDiaz campaign, which made its way to the White House in the form of a justice-seeking petition with over 100,000 signatures, was fairly persuasive. Diaz can now fight as of Aug. 1, 2016, which is a far cry better than Feb. 1, 2020, when he’ll be 36 years old (yet still weari
  
  Read more

• CM Punk Comments On Reaction From “Butt Hurt Dummies” To His UFC Video Game Character

  13-01-2016 16:54
  
  Video game fans take their gaming seriously, folks. Look no further than the decision made by the UFC and EA Sports regarding how to handle the Phil "CM Punk" Brooks character in the new EA Sports UFC 2 game as supporting evidence.Although the former WWE Superstar has yet to strap on his UFC gloves and enter the Octagon for the first time, the decision was made to give him an 85 out of 100 for his skill rating, something that has the MMA and gaming community up-in-arms, all-the-while Punk uses i
  
  Read more

• Yoel Romero Facing Possible Lengthy Suspension For Potential Failed UFC 194 Drug Test

  13-01-2016 16:06
  
  As if there wasn't enough controversy surrounding Yoel Romero in recent months, between "stool gate," his "post-fight Jesus comments" and the fashion in which he won a close decision over top contender Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in his last fight at UFC 194 in December, UFC Middleweight star Yoel Romero is now facing the most serious controversial situation thus far in his UFC career.It was announced this week that Romero is facing a possible violation of the new, strict Anti-Doping Policy, one that
  
  Read more

• Greg Jackson 'very optimistic' following meeting with BJ Penn

  13-01-2016 16:00
  
  Will BJ Penn actually fight again?
  That remains to be seen, but "The Prodigy" appears to be taking the necessary steps towards that accomplishing goal.
  Penn met with legendary MMA coach Greg Jackson Tuesday in Albuquerque to discuss joining the JacksonWink team.
  "I'm pleased with how the meeting went and very optimistic about the future," Jackson told MMAFighitng.com. "BJ doesn't have any specific fight plans, but we have [our own] plans."
  Jackson added that Penn will remain in Albuquerque "for
  
  Read more

• Live Chat: UFC 197 talk, Nick Diaz punishment, Yoel Romero's drug test and more

  13-01-2016 15:31
  
  This is the Promotional Malpractice Live Chat.
  Never a dull moment is there? For starters, UFC 197 was made official this week. That means Conor McGregor will jump to lightweight retaining his featherweight belt to face reigning champion Rafael dos Anjos. It also means UFC women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm will defend her strap against Miesha Tate. As for Ronda Rousey? She apparently won't even compete at UFC 200, maybe not until the fall of 2016. We'll break down what all of this means.
  
  Read more

• Nick Diaz declared he 'wrongfully' took Fifth Amendment as part of NAC settlement agreement

  13-01-2016 15:00
  
  Nick Diaz's settlement did not come without concessions.
  On Tuesday, the Nevada Athletic Commission unanimously approved the terms of a deal with Diaz, reducing his suspension to 18 months and his fine to $100,000. The NAC had previously suspended Diaz for five years and fined him $165,000 in September for testing positive for marijuana for the third time in the state.
  Diaz will now be able to fight as early as Aug. 1. That's the good news. However, in order for the deal to go through, Diaz had
  
  Read more

• Morning Report: Yoel Romero's USADA test leads to middleweight uproar by Luke Rockhold, others

  13-01-2016 14:00
  
  It takes quite a bit to bring Michael Bisping and Tim Kennedy together, but science found a way.
  With news that UFC middleweight contender Yoel Romero was informed of a "potential Anti-Doping Policy violation" stemming from an out-of-competition USADA drug test, the rest of the division didn't waste much time.
  Tim Kennedy, a former opponent of Romero's and outspoken critic of the sport's on-going issues with performance-enhancing drug use, went straight for the jugular.@YoelRomeroMMA hey bu
  
  Read more

• Rosa still prospect with plenty of upside despite 1-2 UFC record

  13-01-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  A record without context never tells the whole story.Alexander Gustafsson is 1-3 in his last four fights, but just from those results, you wouldn’t know that the talented Swedish light heavyweight lost to the top three fighters in the weight class, losing a pair of close decisions in championship fights that could very well be the two best fights in the history of the division.On paper, Charles Rosa is 1-2 in the UFC, which is nothing to write home about, but the truth of the matter is tha
  
  Read more

• Mitrione: 'It's do or die for me' Sunday vs. Browne

  13-01-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  Matt Mitrione lives his life in the here and now.While the former NFL lineman turned mixed martial artist appreciates all the steps taken to get where he currently stands, the heavyweight knockout artist doesn’t linger in the past. Setbacks and successes alike have combined to make the 37-year-old Indiana representative the fighter and person he is, and it’s taken every bit of what he’s experienced to shape him into his current form.The same thing goes for his future, as anythi
  
  Read more

• From unknown to champion, Invicta's Livinha ready for more

  13-01-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  In her first pro fight out of her city, country, continent and even hemisphere, Livia Renata Souza won a world title. On April 24 of last year, an undefeated submission artist from the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil made her Invicta FC debut in a strawweight championship bout and stunned the Kansas City crowd with a fourth-round victory over Katja Kankaanpaa. If that wasn’t incredible enough, Souza had turned pro only 25 months earlier. And yet, “Livinha” had complete confidence sh
  
  Read more

• Fight Night Boston Fantasy Preview

  13-01-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  This Sunday at TD Garden in Boston, UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw looks to make his third successful defense when he takes on the former king of the division, Dominick Cruz, who returns to action following knee surgery that kept him out of action for the past year. Cruz was, by far, the best bantamweight in the world when he suffered his first knee injury over three years ago, and now after two more trips to the surgeon and a long road to recovery, he's finally back and ready to try and
  
  Read more

• Felder promising fireworks Sunday on FIGHT PASS

  13-01-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  Paul Felder has a blunt response when asked about having his back up against the wall heading into this weekend’s matchup with Daron Cruickshank in Boston on UFC FIGHT PASS.“If this is the last fight I ever have, people are going to remember it; that’s what I’m telling you. If it’s my time to be cut, #$%$ it, but you’re not going to want to after I’m done in the cage, win or lose.” Don’t miss Paul Felder vs. Daron Cruickshank this Sunday
  
  Read more

• Dillashaw and Cruz go at it again, this time on SI Now

  13-01-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw and No. 1 contender Dominick Cruz have been going at it for months ahead of their huge title fight in Boston on Sunday. The verbal warfare continued on Wednesday when the two top 135-pounders appeared on Sports Illustrated Now to preview their upcoming bout. The conversation quickly became heated as the two fighters exchanged insults once again.Don't miss Dillashaw vs. Cruz live and free on FOX Sports 1 this Sunday night. You can watch the complete SI video
  
  Read more

• Anderson/Lawlor, Silva/Taleb added to UFC 197

  13-01-2016 07:00 via ufc.com
  
  The championship fights are set for UFC 197 on March 5. Now it's time to see who else will be stepping into the Octagon at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and Wednesday, two fights were added to the card. In light heavyweight action, former Ultimate Fighter winner Corey Anderson will look to extend his two-fight winning streak and continue on his road to the top when he faces veteran Tom Lawlor, whose return to the Octagon last July after an injury-induced layoff resulted in a Performan
  
  Read more

• Donald Cerrone Challenges Reebok: Donate “Ludicrous” Fine To Military Charity

  13-01-2016 06:05
  
  Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone was among the first fighters fined for violating the UFC & Reebok's uniform policy for fighters. Cerrone says he was fined a "ludicrous" amount of money for sewing an American flag patch on to his shorts, which he does as a tribute to his late grandmother.
  Here's what Cerrone said on The MMA Hour this week about the situation:"Absolutely I was fined for it, for wearing an old flag. Patriotically, that is not very cool, is it? Especially when they make a pair of green
  
  Read more

• Frankie Edgar Accuses The UFC & Conor McGregor Of Ducking Him

  13-01-2016 05:39
  
  Frankie Edgar continues to vent about his inability to secure a shot at the UFC featherweight championship. Edgar has won his last five fights over the likes of Chad Mendes and Urijah Faber, and Joe Rogan has also called for the title shot, saying that Edgar vs. Conor McGregor would be "bananas."
  Edgar says the UFC knows he would be a tough opponent for McGregor, and for that reason he "f*cking doubts" he'll ever get the fight. Here's what he had to say:"I was deflated man. I just fought one of
  
  Read more

• Conor McGregor Says He Will “Behead” Rafael dos Anjos: “He’s A Traitor”

  13-01-2016 05:27
  
  Conor McGregor has fired the first shot following the official announcement of his fight with Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 197. McGregor started the hype for the fight with this statement he released on Tuesday:“OFFICIAL FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT:Conor McGregor Vs Rafael Dos Anjos for the UFC Lightweight World Championship.March 5th.MGM Grand, Las Vegas.LIVE ON PPV.This McGregor Inc. executive business decision is brought to you by the King himself in association with EA Sports. ‘McGregor is the
  
  Read more

• Report: Dana White Says Ronda Rousey Unlikely to Return at UFC 200

  13-01-2016 05:14 via sherdog.com
  
  It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Ronda Rousey would step into the Octagon at UFC 200 in July; the opponent was the only thing truly in question.
  
  Read more

• Ronaldo Souza's manager talks Yoel Romero: 'With doping or not, Jacare won that fight'

  13-01-2016 04:30
  
  Perhaps nobody in the UFC's middleweight division owns more reason to be upset with Yoel Romero's potential drug-test violation than Ronaldo Souza.
  "Jacare" faced Romero at UFC 194, dropping a split-decision to the former Olympian. The loss marked Souza's first since March 2012 and at the time seemed to derail his UFC title chances.
  Now, after Romero became the latest fighter to come under fire from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, Souza's manager, Gilberto Faria, has a new plan in mind for his
  
  Read more

• Ronda Rousey Won’t Be Fighting At UFC 200 In July, Asks Dana White For More Time Off

  13-01-2016 03:54
  
  It's a good thing UFC decided to book Holly Holm against Miesha Tate for the first defense of her UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship instead of waiting on putting together an immediate rematch against former champion Ronda Rousey as originally planned,as it appears Rousey has asked for even more time off from the UFC.UFC President Dana White told Yahoo Sports that Rousey recently asked him to take time off to film the remake of Roadhouse and won't be returning at the landmark UFC 200 event in
  
  Read more

• A.J. Agazarm takes over Metamoris' Instagram account, alleging failure to pay

  13-01-2016 03:49
  
  Eduardo de Lima black belt A.J. Agazarm used a planned 'takeover' of jiu-jitsu promoter Metamoris' Instagram account on Tuesday to instead chastise the organization and its promoter Ralek Gracie. Among a range of other complaints, Agazarm most notably claimed Metamoris has failed to pay him and other competitors for services rendered.
  "For quite sometime you have been using my image, my likeness, and the likenesses of others to promote your business and the brand of Metamoris. You claim to
  
  Read more

• Dana White: Ronda Rousey unlikely to fight at UFC 200, needs more time off due to movie obligations

  13-01-2016 02:24
  
  Not long ago, an immediate rematch between Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm at UFC 200 was a foregone conclusion. Anything else just wouldn't make any sense, right? Especially if the UFC wanted to make that card the biggest in history.
  Well, in mixed martial arts, even the best-laid plans die hard. And so it is with this one.
  UFC president Dana White told Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday that Rousey will most likely not fight at UFC 200, because she needs more time off due to other obligat
  
  Read more

• Yoel Romero Faces Potential Anti-Doping Violation for Out-of-Competition Drug Test

  13-01-2016 01:53 via sherdog.com
  
  UFC middleweight contender Yoel Romero faces a potential anti-doping violation for a failed out-of-competition drug test.
  
  Read more

• Yushin Okami Returns to Japan, Meets Ryuta Sakurai in Pride Rematch at Deep 75

  13-01-2016 01:52 via sherdog.com
  
  Former UFC middleweight title contender Yushin Okami will compete on the Japanese fight circuit for the first time since 2006 when he makes his Deep debut next month.
  
  Read more

• Conor McGregor: ‘American Gringo’ Rafael dos Anjos a ‘Traitor to His People’

  13-01-2016 01:22 via sherdog.com
  
  Not long after his lightweight title bout against Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 197 became official, Conor McGregor had a colorful message regarding the matchup.
  
  Read more

• Yoel Romero pops for potential USADA anti-doping violation

  13-01-2016 01:06
  
  The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency keeps testing, and the hits keep coming.
  UFC officials announced Tuesday that Yoel Romero is the latest fighter to come under fire for a "potential Anti-Doping Policy violation" stemming from an out-of-competition USADA drug test. The UFC's statement can be read below.The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) informed Yoel Romero of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample coll
  
  Read more

• Rafael dos Anjos-Conor McGregor, Holly Holm-Miesha Tate Official for UFC 197

  13-01-2016 00:06 via sherdog.com
  
  The blockbuster championship doubleheader for UFC 197 is official.
  
  Read more

• Nick Diaz, Nevada Commission Reach Settlement; 5-Year Suspension Reduced to 18 Months

  13-01-2016 00:06 via sherdog.com
  
  It wasn’t nearly the spectacle that the previous hearing between the two parties provided, but the Nevada Athletic Commission has reached a settlement with Nick Diaz.
  
  Read more

• Conor McGregor's head coach calls Rafael dos Anjos 'a warm-up fight,' predicts first-round finish

  13-01-2016 00:00
  
  Conor McGregor has said before that he loves options. Well, according to SBG Ireland head coach John Kavanagh, McGregor had plenty of options for UFC 197.
  In a column penned Tuesday for Irish outlet The 42, Kavanagh revealed that aside from featherweight contender Frankie Edgar and eventual McGregor lottery winner Rafael dos Anjos, the UFC offered a second choice of lightweight opponent as well, which McGregor ultimately declined.
  "There was another option on the table at lightweight," Kava
  
  Read more

Follow @NewsMMAUSA on Twitter!